Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-03-17
CATARRH!


l. peculiar disorder of the nostrils and
adjacent parts, which prevails to an alarm.
ing extent and is productive of very serious
consequences.
The most prominent and characteristic
feature is a morDid discharge from the
head. varying in its nature at different
times.
In some there is an almost constant flow
of clear, acrid fluid, out oftener an offensive,
purulent or mucopurulent, g eenish-yellow
matter is secreted, which accumulates in
the nostrils OF drops into the throat, neces-
stating its frequen, removal by blowing the
nose or expectoration. and often by both
processes. Sometimes patients feel as
though their whole head was in a state of
rottenness, so great is the amount OF matter
discharged and so fetid Is its odor The
patient is greatly annoyed by the constant
dropping into the throat of the morbid mat
ter from the head, and as a recumbent posi-.
ton naturally favors the flow downward.
his rest is frequently disturbed from this
cause. Many sufferers are obliged to lie
with the head very much elevated in order
to sleep with some degree of comfort:
In others toush. yiscid snd offensive
phlegm collects behind and above the soft
palate, in the pas. .age between the throat
and head, adhearing to the parts with glu-
ish tenacity. Its lodgment embarrasses
respiration and creates a sens ,tion of irri.
tation and uneasiness in the affected local
ity, which gives rise to constant and al
most irresistible desire to relieve the dis
comfort by drawing the mucus into the
throat so dS 10 eJecC ~ ny tue III 1uLQ. In1S
practice. popularly known as hawking"
is characteristic of catarrh, and proves as
embarrassing to the one affected as it is
disagreeable TO those around him.
Again, the offensive matter hardens and
deposits Itself. on the membrane in the
81 ape of dry, hard concretions, which are
discharged by way of the nostrils or throat
in Jumps or fragments OF deep green tint.
In some cases these incrustations accumu-
late to such an extent as to form a regular
plug in the nose, which Obstructs breathing
and produces serious discomfort. So firm
ly do these incrustatiGns adhere to the
point OF attachment that their removal
usually requires the most violent efforts;
not unfrequenily u ey have to be torn from
the membrane. Occasionally u solid cast
of notable size is expelled, on which there
are generally traces OF blood. but in some
cases the cast presents a tubular appear.
ance, being of exact shape of the nasal
cavity. This condition is indicative of ul-
ceration, which, in time, may destroy the
bony structure of the nose and produce
subsequent fattening OF that organ.
Gases are occasionally met with in which
a thick, viscid, Shiny secretion coats the
mem brane of the nasal cavities and then
putrifes, giving rise to a stencil which is
really overpowering and sufficiently fetid to
poison the atmosphere of a whole room;
and there are others in which all the secrc-
!ions OF the membrane are suspended, caus-
aud feyerishuess in the head and nose-a
condition popularity known as DRY Ca
tarrh."
The disease speedily extends to the air
cavities OF the bones Of the forehead and
of h avy weight or compression over the
forehead, especially In the region above
and between the eyes, and TO q feeling OF
fulness. heat. irritati IN, soreness or pain in
the nostrils near the root OF the nose, as
| well as in the upper part OF the throat,
above aud behind the soft palate. Some.
times there is pain obstinately. fixed in some
particular part, as in the temple, on the top
of the heao, at the back of the neck, or be-
hind the Orbids, and occasionally pain
| manifests itself In the face of so severe a
character that it is frequently mistaken for
neuralgia.
The breath is always tainted and at times
assumes an exceeding fetid and sickening
odor. In some cases it becomes 30 revolt
ingly offensive as to render the sufferer an
object OF disgust to himself as well as to
others.
The nasal membrane is thickened and
congested, causing the nose to be stopped
up, sometimes on one side, sometime ON the
oisagreeable, stuffy sensation in the head,
and occasioniDg violent and prolonged
paroxysms of sneezing.
The voice is weak, indistinct and husky
or OF nasal character, di' playing sort Of
suitiDg quality. Oftentines there is con-
tinuous hoarscness and discOrdance There
is also sense of irritation in the throat,
and frequent attempts to clear the parts of
phlegm, produ cling the sound ''hem" more
or less fOrcibly. In some cases patients
complain OF an uncomfortable feeling of
fullness, or n choky ensetiOn in the throat,
and in others OF a distressing and almost
constant dryness, for the temporary relief
of which they have to swallow frequently.
Others, again, speak of a constant bad or
nauseoUs taste in the mouth or throat.
The stomach generally suffers more or
less and becomes weak and irritable; the
appetite is capricious and nearly always
bad in the morning. The patient is Ian
guild, unable to perform mental or physical
labor with the usual facility, is nervous, de
pressed in spirits, at times fearful. timid,
agitated and inclined to drowsiness and
sleep, the memory weakened and perma
nent impairment seriously threatened.
The mucous membrane soon becomes
morbidly sensitive to uniavorable inau
comes affected from the slightest causes. SO
that at last breath of wind upon the lining
of the nose or throat becomes productive OF
anccs of the respiratory organs. Thus the
patient is subject to frequent and repeated
colds. each attack aggravating the disease
by giving 1t a new impulse and involving a
In this manner the difficulty spreads from
organ to organ. invading the throat, larnyx
trachea and bronchial tubes, until, en-
croachiDg further and further. it reaches
but q slight impulse is required to send 1t
to the lungs. Catarrh may, and often does,
affect other organs in the body, especially
those containing mucous membrane. suct
as the stomach, bowels, kidneys, etc.
By the employment OF proper inhalation
in the form of medicated vapor (not steam
or spray we are able to produce immediat.
and direct action upon tho diseased surfaca
will find It's way into the most remote and
intricate cavities, where 1t Is dtterly impOs-
sible to make fluid applications By these
meaus every case can be cured.
OZGNA.
Ozena is the professional or technical
name given to an advanced form of catarrh
in which liberation has eaten through the
membrane lining of the nose to the cSrti-
lage of the bone. ANY case OF catsrrh may
in those who are naturally scrofoious. The
discharge takes place through the nostrils
or through the @roat. and Is generally of
yellowish or greenahtsh ,5yua yellow Wd color ire
arays attended by an offensive smell. In the
language of DR.. Wood, OF Philadelphia,
'rhe disease is one OF the most Obdurate
to encounter. In bad cases the breath of the
patient becomes so revolving as to isolate
him from society and to render him an OBJ
ject of disgust even to himself" In some
cases pieces of bone become separated and
slough off, leaving deep, unhealthy ulcers,
which secrete a bloody matter, and are ex.
tremeiy difficult to heal. After 'zens has
continued some time tne sense OF smell
usually becomss impaired and often lost.
Dea fl ess is one of its most common conse-
quencss, and results from its extension
throug h the eustachian tubes to the internal
ear. Pains in the head aud over the frontal
sinuses, impairiDg memory. and even in.
sanity frequently spring from its extension
to the brain. The greatest danger, how
ever. because the most common, Is that it
will extend downward and affect the lungs.
In most cases of pulmonary disease catarfh
Is present in some degree, and in many in
stances 1t causes large share of the pa
tents discomfort.
Besides these grave consequences, all of
which are liable to spring from scrofulous
or ozgna, there are others which, II
less dangerous, are sufficiently unpleasant.
1t occasions great unhappiness to thousands
of both sexes, by isolating them and pre-
venting their settlement in life An often:
sive running from the nose, with foul
befall young people flor no yo ng person
should ever think OF marrying while aihict-